CM questions tourism stakeholders’ silence over Paris visit row

Gulmarg, Sep 18: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday expressed his displeasure with tourism stakeholders of Jammu and Kashmir, accusing them of failing to support his government’s promotional efforts and remaining silent in the face of political attacks.

According to people privy to the meeting, CM Omar, while addressing a closed-door gathering of travel agents at the Gulmarg Convocation Centre (GCC), expressed frustration that none of the stakeholders came to his defence when the opposition mounted criticism over tourism-related issues.

He conveyed his displeasure to the tourism stakeholders after inaugurating the state-of-the-art GCC, which is expected to boost tourism, promote meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions (MICE) activities, and create new opportunities for local youth and businesses.

They said CM Omar, who also holds the tourism portfolio, said that he had taken several initiatives to promote tourism, including events like a cycling festival in Pahalgam, but felt he lacked backing from tourism stakeholders during political scrutiny.

The CM had undertaken a special promotional programme for Pahalgam tourism after the April 22 unfortunate incident in which terrorists killed 26 people, mainly tourists.

He also made it clear that lease agreements of all the hotels across tourism destinations in Jammu, Katra, Pahalgam, Sonamarg, Srinagar, and Gulmarg will be scrutinised soon.

According to sources, the CM also appeared upset over what he called the “selective leakage” of official orders, noting that while he signs numerous directives daily, only certain ones are exposed to the media and the opposition.

CM Omar also questioned the silence of the stakeholders when he was being targeted for a scheduled visit to Paris, described by the travel agents and other stakeholders as an important place for the promotion of tourism.

He said the region’s economy has traditionally depended heavily on tourism and its allied trades, and the industry cannot regain its lost vibrancy unless both the public and private stakeholders work hand-in-hand.

The CM questioned the silence of the stakeholders when they knew that he or his Advisor Nasir Aslam Wani was not going to Paris and that J&K was also represented by officials and travel associations.